James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Sometimes when you're developing a fantasy painting, it's fun to act out a scene, even if the photo reference that you get out of it isn't that useful directly.

The idea is to get into the spirit of the action, feel the wind in your face and hear the screech of the pterosaur.

I think that's more important than getting a photographically real piece of reference to copy. If you can identify with the weight and balance of things, and especially the emotion, you've got 90% of the problem solved.

Yes, by curving that back and lowering that head - the final pose is much more tensed than you're reference.But I think many artist can attest to it that it's darn difficult to let go of that nasty reflex to copy a photograph literally.

I have heard that before, but have not done it, at least not as you do here--mainly to get the feel, the weight, the emotional pull of the action. I'll try it. I agree with Erik--it's difficult to let go of the reflex of drawing things literally instead of artistically.